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Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Alabama Author William Cobb Discusses The Last Queen of the Gypsies

Lester Ray, a fourteen-year-old boy who was deserted by his mother when he was a baby and finally escapes his abusive alcoholic father, and Minnie, a woman who was abandoned by her Gypsy family of migrant fruit pickers when she was eleven, are the primary characters in William Cobb’s new book The Last Queen of the Gypsies. The book peers into the fascinating world of North American Romany Gypsies and simultaneously reveals small town southern life ranging from the Great Depression to the 1960s. Mr. Cobb’s discussion of his latest book is presented as part of Birmingham Public Library’s Alabama Bound Presents series. William Cobb, a native of Demopolis Alabama, attended Livingston State College and Vanderbilt University. He has had a long and distinguished career as teacher and writer-in-residence at the University of Montevallo.

DetailsAlabama Bound Presents: William CobbThe Last Queen of the GypsiesCentral Library, Arrington AuditoriumWednesday, January 12Noon

Alabama Bound Presents is a series of Alabama author talks and book signings offered free-of-charge by the Birmingham Public. Alabama Bound Presents highlights local and regional authors who reflect the diversity of our community and draw from a wide range of personal experience. Through programs such as these, the library seeks to provide Birmingham citizens of all ages with opportunities for entertainment, ongoing education, and personal growth and an opportunity for local authors to publicize their latest work. This series replaces the one day event, Alabama Bound, previously held in the spring of each year.

Additional programs are scheduled as part of Alabama Bound Presents. For more information, please visit the BPL Web site at www.bplonline.org or call (205) 226-3742.